In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do many societies identify as basic human rights? What reputation might North Korea have regarding its implementation of human rights?

Teaching Suggestion: Yeonmi Park is unaware of the rights she has been denied by the North Korean regime because of her sheltered upbringing. Park only later discovers The Meaning of Freedom when she escapes and eventually becomes a refugee in South Korea. Consider posing the questions to students before using the articles to reinforce the response.

• This article from the United Nations defines human rights and outlines internationally accepted rights.
• This article from the BBC explains why North Korea fails to uphold human rights. 

2. How do political, social, or economic factors contribute to refugee crises? What reasons might refugees have to flee North Korea? What dangers are posed to refugees after fleeing?

Teaching Suggestion: Park’s desire to leave North Korea is partially inspired by the economic hardship caused by famine in North Korea in the mid-1990s. Park believes she will live a better life after she escapes North Korea but is immediately trafficked by individuals in China who take advantage of the refugee crisis. Consider posing the questions to students before further exploring them by reading the articles.

• This article from Crossing Borders describes the North Korean refugee crisis and the factors that contribute to it.
• This article from National Geographic defines what a refugee is and describes elements that may contribute to forced migration or displacement.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Think of a time when you learned of or read about someone who was denied a basic human right. What feelings did you have when you learned of this situation? What can countries and organizations do to support individuals who have been denied basic rights?

Teaching Suggestion: Park and her family lived in North Korea, where information is heavily censored and social status is used to control citizens. Consider discussing violations of rights in western society, how individuals respond to such violations, and ways in which people can work to support those who have been denied human rights.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge can explore human rights variations around the world and how they may differ from country to country. Students may wish to compile this information into an infographic for students to refer to as they read the memoir.